One of my biggest pet peeves, is when any entity (business, governmental, the idjit sitting next to you, etc.) uses a common term to describe something that either has nothing at all in common with that term, or is in actuality just one stepping stone along the path that will lead to what that term actually means.
The current “Virtual Reality” craze is an example of the latter. All those headsets you see people wear? Yes, those things which claim to be “VR headsets”. Not even close to what Virtual Reality actually would be, They don’t even fit into the basic translation of the term!
Virtual Reality literally translates as “Almost Real (Existence)”. This absolute basic definition means that for anything to be “Virtual Reality” it would need to be difficult to distinguish it from the real thing. In otherwords, for something to be “Virtually Real” I.e. “Virtual Reality” it would need to be capable to confuse it with actual reality. So let’s take a look at these “VR Headsets” using just the five most commonly accepted senses, as well as the emulation capabilities (yes, I know there are discussions of there being more than five senses, but that’s for a later article…).
For scoring purposes: a YES =1; Probable =0.75; Kinda = 0.5; Unlikely= 0.3; Doubtful = 0.1; UNKNOWN/NO= 0
Does a “VR Headset” allow for a Visual Representation that can be confused with reality? YES
Does a “VR Headset” allow for an Auditory Representation that can be confused with reality? NO, though audio can be a part, it remains bi-directional at best
Does a “VR Headset” allow for an Olfactory (smell) Representation that can be confused with reality? NO
Does a “VR Headset” allow for a Contact (touch, temperature, spray of water, etc.) Representation that can be confused with reality? NO
Does a “VR Headset” allow for a Representation of taste that can be confused with reality? NO
Can the Programs within realistically emulate life? NO
Score: 1 out of 6
So, from the MOST BASIC DEFINITION a VR Headset (as they currently stand) is not Virtual Reality. As such, it should never have been claimed as Virtual Reality, and representing it as such is a misrepresentation of the product. At best, these products could be called Visual Virtual Reality headsets (VVR Headsets) as they are capable of confusing our visual cortexes enough to mistake them as reality.
As I said earlier, these current “VR headsets” fit into the “just one stepping stone along the path that will lead to what that term actually means” category. They are truly a large step in the direction of True VR, as they do satisfy the conditions for one of the senses… however, let’s now take a look at forms of Virtual Reality from the future, as shown in various literature and media.
Star Wars- Holotables-
Visual? Kinda. These are clearly for entertainment as the holographic creatures are translucent, however you do get the sense that the holotable creatures are actually fighting. The translucency of the holograms may actually be intentional so people do not confuse them as being real.
Auditory? YES. You can clearly hear the holograms as they hit one another and roar in victory, AND it is clear the characters are hearing it come from the holographic representation, and not speakers.
Olfactory? UNKNOWN. Doubtful though, as nobody gives a clear reaction to the odors such a variety of creatures would give off.
Contact? NO. It is clearly shown that a character can wave their arms through the holographic creatures with no effect aside from visual distortion.
Taste? NO. While it is never shown that anyone would try to eat a hologram, the fact that the physical mouth would just pass through speaks to the low likelihood of them having a flavour.
Emulate Life? Doubtful. While it can clearly emulate the movements and sounds of the creatures it displays, it is never made clear (in the movies) if the holocreations can interact without player choices, or what their level of actions would be.
Score: 1.6 out of 6
Notes: The Star Wars Holotables would be another step toward true VR, given it’s directional quality on the sound as well as a visual representation that does not impede view of the real world. This would be a step up from our current form of Augmented Reality (AR)
Fallout- VR pods
Visual? YES. These are specifically used for ‘training soldiers’. As such their level of visual realism is nearly identical to that of the outside world (as portrayed by the games)
Auditory? YES. The User clearly hears and interacts with specific sources of sound individually and there is some evidence of directionality.
Olfactory? UNKNOWN. While possible, there is no evidence of the user receiving any Olfactory input. The fact that a full POD is used to enter VR makes this a possibility, but with no evidence from the source material to support this it cannot be scored.
Contact? YES. It is clearly shown that a user can die within a VR simulation, and that injuries sustained within will carry to the outside.
Taste? Unlikely. While it is shown that a user can consume food (or other consumables) within the simulation it is not clear if the simulated food actually has a taste.
Emulate Life? Probable. While the VR simulations shown are clearly programmed to look and act alive, these remain scripted interactions. However, there are instances of life remaining beyond the body’s capability of survival within a holographic simulation, and the argument can thus be made that these are now virtually emulated life..
Score: 4.05 out of 6
Our first instance of plausible Virtual Reality. If the questions of Olfactory and Taste could be answered more clearly these VR Pods would easily satisfy the requirements of being considered true VR. Even without those two points of contention these pods are still passable enough that without prior knowledge it would actually take some work to determine that the reality is Virtual, and not Actual.
Star Trek- Holodecks
Visual? YES. These are commonly used as recreation centers for ‘leisure activities’. While each program varies, from what is shown the level of realism within is identical to the level of realism of the actual activity being represented.
Auditory? YES. The Participants clearly hear and interact with specific sources of sound individually and there is high evidence of directionality.
Olfactory? Probable. While there are a few instances shown where a character remarks on an odor within the holodeck, many of these instances appear to have alternate causes than the holodeck itself, and the few instances where an odor is remarked upon with no outside source could be considered simply artistic license for that episode.
Contact? YES. It is clearly shown that a user can interact physically with holographic objects, and with safeties off they can also be injured or even killed by a holographic simulation. It is also shown that a Participant sitting/standing on a holographic object will immediately fall if said object is “removed from program”. It is also shown that a Holosystem can be used to generate viable holographic organs to keep someone alive.
Taste? Probable. May require a link to a food replicator, or the replication capabilities of such, but as is shown in the DS9 episode “it’s only a Paper Moon” a staff member was able to fully live and survive, to include food within a holodeck.
Emulate Life? Probable. The Holodecks used by the Federation have on rare occasion created holographic life (TNG: Moriarty, DS9: “Vick”, VOYAGER: The Doctor), however the majority of the holograms in a holoprogram are just that… programs. While an adept programmer could potentially create a program capable of emulating life, it is clear that most of the holoprograms only do this up to a point.
Score: 5.25 out of 6
The Star Trek Holodecks are absolutely a Virtual Reality. With the ability to live within a simulation, and the potentially high level of difficulty in separating the holographic from the real, as well as the capability of fully emulating living entities, the holodeck program can be acknowledged as true virtual realities.
Our final example will come from the TV show VR.5, though not for it’s representation of Virtual Reality. Instead, VR.5 is important because it gives a specific and detailed requirement for each level of Virtual Reality.
Summarized these levels are:
VR.1- a computer screen
VR.2- interactive screens (video games, touch screen, etc.)
VR.3- Flight Simulator
VR.4- A mental link to Cyberspace.
VR.5- initiator psychically connects to someone and interacts with their subconscious in a virtual world. Only initiator remembers the experience
VR.6- as VR.5 but all participants remember the experience.
As can be seen, VR.5 takes a more psychic look at Virtual Reality in that after stage 3 (which can be commonly found in today’s world) a mental connection of some sort is required. Stages beyond VR.6 are mentioned and deal directly with psychic capabilities in the real world. However, we can use this VR leveling system to show where we are… let’s take a look at our list.
VR.1- a computer screen
VR.2- interactive screens (video games, touch screen, etc.)
VR.3- Flight Simulator
VR.4- Mono-Sensory input VR [we are here: Visual Virtual Reality. (full visual directionality and interactivity)]
VR.5- Dual-sensory input Virtual Reality. (Star Wars holotables)
*VR.6- Virtually emulated life.
VR.7- Multi-sensory input Virtual Reality. (Fallout’s VR Pods)
VR.8- Full sensory input Virtual Reality (Star Trek’s Holodecks)
VR.9- Virtual Lifeforms
VR.10- Reality itself
VR.11- Alternate Realities
Seeing as how a virtual reality would have to be able to successfully emulate life to a degree that someone interacting with it would have fair difficulty in telling it apart from the real thing (this list’s VR.6) we still have at least two more steps before we reach an “actual” level of Virtual Reality. While we are certainly on the road to this technology, and it may be within our grasp in the coming decades… IT IS NOT here yet, and any claims that it is are mislabelings and misrepresentations of the truth (in the case of present day america… this appears to be done for profit from the “idea” of the misrepresentation of the term).
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